Wednesday, May 13, 2026

From Discovery to Purchase: The Role of Community Commerce

What is the role social communities play in influencing purchase decisions? WARC, in partnership with TikTok and Publicis Groupe, came together for a just-released study that helps answer that question. Their work outlines what they say is "the huge potential for brands to engage with audiences and increase unplanned purchases by narrowing the funnel between product discovery and purchase."
Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom lit up at night

Is Wall Street Too Upbeat On Disney’s DTC Path?

During a roughly five week period in 2020, the Walt Disney Co.'s stock value surged to a price upward of $170. The company's shares were buoyed, in part, by Pfizer’s successful Phase-3 vaccination trial and Disney’s second Direct-to-Consumer investor day. Nearly one year later, MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson notes, "the stock is seemingly stuck in neutral." What's wrong?

The State of Converged TV Revealed

Analyzing billions of ad impressions across 20 converged TV campaigns active on TVSquared’s ADvantage platform, the report uncovers insights on incremental reach and how to best approach converged TV strategies.
Rosemary Ravinal

Virtual Interviews: How To Stand Out From The Crowd

Veteran public relations pro Rosemary Ravinal is often asked, “How do I stand out during a virtual meeting and make a strong impression?” "My answer draws from techniques honed during my corporate career, combined with what I teach my clients about public speaking and executive presence online," she says in this latest Media Information Bureau column focused on Zoom excellence in today's workplace.

The Future of Broadcasting & OTT

At Agora’s RTE2021 conference, Brad Altfest, the company's Director of Business Development, Media and Entertainment, moderated a conversation with video player software provider NexStreaming CEO Carlos Lucas; live video solution provider TVU Networks SVP, Solutions Jared Timmins; and streaming media business VisualOn CEO Yang Cai on the future of broadcasting and OTT. Here's Altfest's summary of the chat.
TuneIn CEO Rich Stern, who presented in person at Radiodays Europe in Lisbon

These Are Days: A European Look On Radio Today

Several radio industry professionals known across the U.S. have just wrapped up a two-day event full of discussions and insight on the future of radio, and of audio. With an in-person and virtual option, Radiodays Europe concluded its postponed event five months after its originally scheduled date on Monday in Lisbon, Portugal.

Digital: Ever-Changing the Communications Game

Today, digital media and technology have permeated businesses at every level. Yet, they continue to create fundamentally new challenges in the crisis and risk management field. Perhaps Edelman’s just released 2021 Connected Crisis Study can help. It sheds new light on how significant this shift has become, and how far companies still have to go, to adapt.
Colmar, France [Photo: Aaron Silva]

Swiss Miss? FM Radio Fadeout on Schedule For 2023

In late 2017, Norway's FM radio band was officially silenced, with an effort approved by the Norwegian government to shift all radio listeners to DAB-delivered digital radio stations formally completed. Switzerland's next, and the transition appears to be significant in one city bordering two nations where FM signals are plentiful.

Digitally Divided: Over 27 Million Households Don’t Have Internet Access

It sounds hard to fathom just one day after a global outage crippled Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, immediately triggering cybercrime concerns that Cybercrime Magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Morgan will be addressing at Forecast 2022 on November 16. Yet, it is indeed true. Some 27.6 million U.S. households lack a home internet connection.

Coming October 8: A Diverse-Owned Media List

In one week, the "most comprehensive and validated diverse-owned media list in the industry" will be released. And, it will be paired with a "Diverse Owned Media Planning and Investment Guide" full of profiles and aggregated metrics of diverse-owned media on TV, radio and digital platforms.
Rosemary Ravinal

Six Ways To Fight Zoom Fatigue

More than a year later, Zoom burnout persists as virtual meetings have become a daily fixture of remote and hybrid work environments. This column from Rosemary Ravinal offers a half-dozen ways to combat Zoom fatigue.

The Impact of Product Placements on TV Viewer Behavior

During the 2020 Christmas season, a well-known brand of TexMex-style food products integrated some of its offerings into a Lifetime yuletide yarn. The products also found their way into one of Food Network’s top cooking programs.  Did those product placements translate to a bump in sales?

Consumers Wrestling With 2,021 Uncertainties

Hybrid shopping, localized travel, a focus on health and wellness, the rise of challenger brands and an increase in e-commerce in areas of higher infection, are some of the buying behaviors in the U.S. that remain in a post-pandemic era. Here's what this may mean for your advertising trends in 2022, courtesy of Ascential-owned research firm WARC.
Clark Smidt, who found success with Softrock 103 WEEI-FM in Boston some 40+ years ago, owns an AM in New Haven. Why?

Opinion: Smart Speakers Require Smart Speech

Smart speakers are the biggest boon to radio in the home since, well, the Reagan era. But, is there one key ingredient needed to lure consumers to a radio station's audio stream, instead of another Pandora-powered audio stream or Spotify playlist of choice? Yes, says Clark Smidt. Voices carry, especially good ones.
Angelica (Angie) Balderas, SVP/ Integrated Marketing Solutions, Entravision Communications/Sacramento Karina Dobarro, EVP/Managing Partner/Multicultural, Horizon Media Tucker Flood, President, Eastman Radio Jason Hall, EVP/Advertising Sales, Estrella Media Patrick Quinn, CEO/Founder, PQ Media

Challenges and Opportunities in Spanish-language Radio

Stay-at-home ordinances and remote work mandates eliminated the daily commute. As a result, Spanish-language in-car radio listening and ad revenue "plummeted" during the early months of the global COVID-19 2020 shutdown.  Now, dollars are surging, says Entravision's Angie Balderas.